Thursday, September 07, 2017

Texas Price Gouging Laws

Even here in San Antonio, we have had to face long lines at the gas stations or no gas at all. The Texas laws prevent the stations from raising the price very much. There have been reports of fights and accidents at stations. Excerpts from the article:

"We've
seen water up to $99, for a case of water," Texas Attorney General Ken
Paxton told ABC News. "We've seen fuel prices up to $20 a gallon. We've
seen hotels jack prices up sometimes six, seven times what they should
be charging from their normal rate."

The attorney general's office warned consumers to "be on your guard" in a statement on its website.

"Price
gouging is illegal, and the Office of the Attorney General has
authority to prosecute any business that engages in price gouging after a
disaster has been declared by the governor," the statement read. "The
attorney general has issued stern warnings about price gouging to
businesses in times of disaster, but you should still be on your guard."

In
Texas, offenders who engage in price gouging can face fines of up to
$20,000 per offense, and up to $250,000 if the victim is 65 or older.

Paxton
urged consumers to file a complaint or call the attorney general's
hotline if they feel they are victims of price gouging.

"We're
looking at prices over the last three months," Paxton told ABC News.
"And if you've increased those prices by more than 10 percent, we're
going to look at it.""

"On their website, the office of the attorney general describes price
gouging as "selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine or another necessity
at an exorbitant or excessive price" or "demanding an exorbitant or
excessive price in connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food,
medicine or another necessity.""